iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominee Spotlight: Rihanna

Rihanna is nominated for 5 iHeartRadio Music Awards, including Artist of the Year!
<a target="blank" href="http://news.iheart.com/awards/?vote=bestartist">To vote for Rihanna click here!</a>
<p>RiRi is 26, and she's grown a lot since she first started. Take a look back on the evolution of Rihanna and her style!
Rihanna - real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty - grew up in Barbados and got her start in 2003 when she met American record producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers (who she met through mutual friends in her home land). She performed renditions of the songs "Emotion" and "Hero."</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
After coming to America with her mother, she recorded some demo tapes which caught the ear of an A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings. She eventually auditioned for Jay Z and L.A. Reid, which landed her a six-album record deal!
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Her debut single was "Pon de Replay" released in August 2005. Her debut album <i>Music of the Sun</i> was also released in 2005.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
Rihanna's always had her own style. From red carpet...<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
...to casual...<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
...to both...<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
She always looks great!<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Her hit "SOS" was a big song for RiRi.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
After the release of her debut album, Rihanna got straight to work on her second one! <i>A Girl Like Me</i> was released in 2006, featuring songs like "SOS" and "Unfaithful."
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
Rihanna's album <i>A Girl Like Me</i> went platinum in the U.S.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In 2006, she won Teen Choice Awards for Choice Female Hottie, Choice Female R&B Artist, and Female Breakout Artist.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
The same year she also won Billboard Awards for Female Artist of the Year, Pop 100 Artist of the Year, and Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
She may be doing well for herself now, but in 2009 she was bankrupt due to bad accounting.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
That same year was the year of her altercation with then-boyfriend Chris Brown. Brown had beaten her during an escalated fight and as a result, canceled her Grammy performance that year.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
In 2007 she released <i>Good Girl Gone Bad</i>. The lead single "Umbrella" was an enormous hit.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
RiRi has won several American Music Awards over the course of her career.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Her first Grammy Awards came in 2007. She was nominated in a few categories, and won Best Rap/Sung collaboration for "Umbrella" featuring Jay Z.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In 2008, Chris Brown joined Rihanna on stage during Jingle Ball in New York City.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna released <i>Rated R</i>, her fourth studio album in the fall of 2009.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
RiRi is known for her style. Check out her dress!!<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna's fifth studio album, <i>Loud</i>, was released in 2010, its lead single was "Only Girl (In the World)."
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
The second single off of <i>Loud</i> was "What's My Name?" featuring Drake. Ooh na na!
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
From 2010 to 2011, Rihanna hit the road on her Last Girl on Earth Tour.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna and Katy Perry were BFF at one time.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna and Drake performed their hit "What's My Name?" at the Grammy Awards in 2011.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
RiRi stunned on the red carpet at the 2011 Grammy Awards in this see-through dress.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
From 2010 to 2011, Rihanna hit the road on her Last Girl on Earth Tour.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
The year 2011 brought forth her album <i>Talk That Talk</i>.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
Rihanna set on her Loud tour in support of her album.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
RiRi + Katy!<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna teamed up for Jay Z on their hit "Run This Town."<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
2012 was such a good year for the singer, that Forbes named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
To help support her album <i>Unapologetic</i>, Rihanna flew over 150 journalists and a group of fans all over the world for her much-talked about 777 Tour. 7concerts, 7 cities, in 7 days!
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Rihanna confirmed her reconciliation with Chris Brown in an interview with "Rolling Stone" in January 2013, but the couple had split about 5 months later.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
In 2012 Rihanna released <i>Unapologetic
</i>.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Def Jam</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
Rihanna was featured in an Armani campaign in 2011. Her song "Skin" was used in Armani Jeans ads.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo:<a style="font-size: 9px;" href="http://www.armani.com" target="new">Armani</a></span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
Rihanna loves visiting Barbados when she can.<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
Rihanna has her own line of cosmetics with MAC!<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In 2013, Rihanna launched her fashion collection River Island with personal stylist Adam Selman.
<p><a target="blank" href="http://www.iheart.com/artist/Rihanna-34742/">Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Courtesy of River Island</span>